Correspondence (incoming): begging letters, F

Hamilton Dec 14

Mrs Stanford

Dear Madam

No doubt you will think I am forward in writing to you for money but I read in our paper where you gave and was very charitable and as I am a very poor women [sic] with three little Children, and cannot get the necesarys [sic] of life sometimes have not 5 cts to get bread I thought I would put

self aside and ask for charity - if you could only see my Lillian asking for a doll & buggy and knowing I have not got the money to get her a shirt even, if I only had $10 or 15 dollars it would mean such a lot to me if you could find it in your heart to answer this letter I will ask God to bless and keep you and yours as long as I live. I remain Your humble servant

Mrs. D. Farr Jr. 297 John St North Hamilton Ont

Mrs David Farr, Jr. 297 John St. North Hamilton Ont

March 7-91 Harrisburg Pa

Mrs Stanford

Dear Friend,

I am a physican's widow with four children the oldest nearly fifteen & the youngest eight, my health is delicate that is I have a weak heart that the doctor says would soon get strong if I could go to a climate with a high altitude. We have a great longing, the children and I to go to California. I have read about the large farms you posess [sic] and the thought has come to me that perhaps you could or would be willing to

make some use of us and assure us a living to start with should we be able to come so far, the children are industrious & intelligent and I think could earn a living if work was provided This sounds vague but I do not wish to bother you further unless you can give me some hope & encouragement, I can not endure that the children should grow up & spend their lives in factories & stores with out making some effort to get them into the country, but the

me write to

(Mrs) Frances Fahring 1453 Regina St Harrisburg Pa.

P.S. If you should desire testimonials of my character of course I can give them My father is a Home missionary of the Reformed church but he is nearly seventy years old & therefore can give us little help in our plan for a Cal-home as like most ministers he has saved little money

F. Fahring